Music, weddings, ghosts, fires and betrayal — the Los Gatos Opera House has seen a lot of things over the past century or two.

The one thing the Opera House hasn’t seen in a very long time, however, is opera.

The building at 140 W. Main St. may be called the Los Gatos Opera House, but the last time opera was performed there was nearly a century ago, in 1916. So when it came time to dream up a fun and exciting idea for their next community fundraiser, the members of the Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club decided to revive the historical tradition and “bring opera back to the Opera House.”

“I just love the concept — Opera at the Opera House! Can you believe it?” says Darrell Monda of the Morning Rotary “Cool Cats,” as members affectionately call themselves.

“The idea came about when we met a Morning Rotary Club from another area, who told us about how they had just invited a touring opera company to perform for one of their recent fundraisers,” Monda recalls. “I thought,`Wow, we haven’t done an opera show in Los Gatos for longer than I can remember.’ In fact, we discovered, it had been 93 years.”

The members got to work planning the event, and Diana Pleasant, another “Cool Cat,” who directs the drama department at Los Gatos High School, arranged to have the West Bay Opera Company out of Palo Alto perform for the grand affair.

Thus, “Opera at the Opera House” was born. The event is set for Feb. 8.

Opera to the rescue The Morning Rotary Club is known for its dedication to raising money for important community causes, and this event promises to be no different.

Two special beneficiaries have been chosen to receive proceeds from the gala: the Los Gatos High School Theatre Improvement Project (TIP) and the Freidrichs Ataxia Research Alliance, which promotes awareness and prevention of a rare disease that speeds up the aging process in young children.

“The money we raise through this event, half will go to TIP as we begin our second $1 million campaign for that, but we also really want to spread awareness of these childhood rare energy diseases,” Monda says. “Many children in our community suffer from these diseases, and it’s a shame that most pharmaceutical companies would rather focus on more well known diseases that make them more money.”

Pleasant says the theater project is coming along nicely.

“The final phase is ahead of us, which includes improvements to the backstage facilities, such as the dressing rooms, the shop where they build the sets, the restrooms,” she says. “We would love to have a lobby with a ticketing window and concession stands for our audiences. Right now, everyone’s kind of squished into the hallway, which doesn’t make for a very grand entrance.”

Pleasant says she made a very interesting discovery recently.

“I found William Weeks’ old architectural plans,” she says excitedly.

Weeks designed Los Gatos High School back in 1924. Back then, he was known as the “go-to man” for designing countless schools across California, Pleasant says.

“The funny thing is, Weeks’ plans did include a lobby, and it was located exactly where we envision adding one. It was cut for budgetary reasons, though,” she says. “So we’d love to finish his vision.”

An historic site

Much like the high school, the Los Gatos Opera House has a rich and fascinating history of its own, dating from its construction by Eugene Long Ford built in 1904.

Some may have found the idea of building an opera house in Los Gatos a cursed task, after two such previous projects went up in flames. The Seanor Opera House fell victim to fire in 1890, and the Johnson Opera House, known affectionately throughout town as the “Pride of Los Gatos,” burned down just four years later. However, Ford, who worked as a station agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad, seemed unfazed by the troubled history.

Ford used capital provided by his well-to-do wife to build his beloved two-story opera house. The first floor would be occupied by retail stores, which eventually included an ice cream parlor and a book and stationery store, and the second floor would feature operas, plays and other such events, complete with a stage, curtains and seating for 500.

The Ford Opera House had its grand opening on Oct. 10, 1904. A parade through the town at noon advertised the evening’s festivities. The food served for the occasion included contemporary fare first introduced at the World’s Fair earlier that year in St. Louis — items such as hamburgers, hot dogs, iced tea and ice cream. Live music by one of the area’s best-known acts, the Sweet Clover Company, entertained guests, backed by the Los Gatos Band.

Ford’s Opera House fared well in town and became known as a cultural epicenter of the area. It became a regular stop on the Western vaudeville circuit, hosting operas, theater performances, melodramas and minstrel shows. Young Henry Crall, the son of the owner of Crall’s Stationery next door, served as the manager.

However, the Opera House’s success would be short-lived.

Ford was known for having a wandering eye. One night, he became enchanted with a girl in one of his performing acts and decided to run away with her.

Naturally, Mrs. Ford was less than pleased. Perhaps in an act of revenge, she sold her adulterous husband’s beloved Opera House while he was away.

The town certainly suffered the loss of civility and culture that the Opera House had given it. After Mrs. Ford sold the building, it went on to house Crider’s Department Store until 1957, and then an antique store. It would not become an Opera House again until many years later.

A grand affair

The past will give way to the present at this weekend’s “Opera at the Opera House” event, where guest will be able to take a gander at the place where all of the excitement and intrigue took place.

The West Bay Opera Company will perform highlights from its upcoming 2009 season, and Outback Steakhouse will be setting up food stations around the room, with tempting menu selections like roasted sirloin with demi glace, seared ahi tuna, crab-stuffed mushrooms, Queenscliff shrimp and assorted side dishes. The evening will conclude with silent and live auctions.

“It promises to be a grand affair that will not only honor the rich, historic traditions of the Los Gatos Opera House but help some very important causes as well,” says Monda.

“Opera at the Opera House” takes place on Feb. 8, 6-9 p.m., at the Los Gatos Opera House, 140 W. Main St. Tickets are $60 per person and are available online at www.lghs.net, or by calling Diana Pleasant at (408) 354-2730, ext. 240.

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